REVIEW: Every Time I Think Of You by Tracey Garvis-Graves

In Every Time I Think Of You by Tracey Garvis-Graves, Daisy has two very important people in her life. Her grandmother who raised her and her son Elliott. Daisy had always planned to move on, but circumstances kept her in her home town, a single mother living with her grandmother. She is happy though, so when tragedy strikes with her grandmother’s murder, Daisy’s life is thrown into turmoil. She also worries that the murder wasn’t as random as it appears, and she will do anything to keep her son safe.

Brooks is a reporter who lives in San Francisco. He’s back in town temporarily under sad circumstances, to help his father with his dying mother and spend some last precious time with her. Working for the town’s newspaper, Brooks meets Daisy when he is reporting on and investigating her grandmother’s death.

Soon the lines between reporter and witness start to blur as Brooks and Daisy spend more time together. What started out as assignment soon becomes so much more as the relationship between them slowly shifts focus. Daisy feels good with Brooks, she hasn’t had a lot of people who actually care about her in her life. Brooks is attracted to Daisy and feels very protective towards her and Elliott.

They both know he’ll be leaving soon though, and their honesty has them putting the breaks on a relationship that shows so much promise. With her grandmother’s death unresolved, Daisy is still dealing with uncertainty and fear over that. Even though she knows Brooks’ life is in San Francisco she is still sad. Brooks will do anything for Daisy though. The chance for love and family, how he feels for her, and what they’ve both been through is a strong motivator for change. And a chance to be together is worth the risks …

Tracey gives us powerful, unforgettable characters in Every Time I Think Of You. Daisy is brave, independent, smart and strong. Her first concern is her son, and this never changes. I liked how she wasn’t bitter about her ex-husband, just realistic and worried for him. All of these characteristics really showed true character strength. Tracey describes Brooks so clearly in his suit and tie I can just picture him! He is protective, caring, and doesn’t run from challenges. Daisy and Brooks are mature characters whose relationship evolves at the perfect pace, and I really enjoyed watching it grow. They are open and honest with one another, and are realistic characters who could be people you know.

Tracey writes Every Time I Think Of You in dual POV’s, and then the occasional third person POV of Daisy’s ex-husband. It is not often I read a book written like this that is so easy to fall into. It is clear and the POV’s are well defined. This was a great way to pull me in and make me feel for the characters and their situations. All of them, even the ex-husband.

There are great secondary characters, from Jack the policeman to Daisy’s son Elliott who is a sweetheart I couldn’t get enough of. The secondary characters add so much to an already deep plot without overshadowing Daisy and Brooks.

Tracey’s descriptions are vivid, and it is obvious she has done her research well for what is covered in Every Time I Think Of You – from the medical perspective to criminal.

Every Time I Think Of You had all the elements that make a really enjoyable book. Well written with just enough humor to off set the serious aspects, realistic characters, mystery, and an emotional mix from sadness to hope that will grip your heart. I’d recommend Every Time I Think Of You to readers who enjoy women’s fiction with a mix of romance and mystery added in.

Book Info:

Published September 16th 2014 by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

Thirty-year-old Daisy DiStefano has two people she holds dear: the grandmother who raised her, and her three-year-old son, Elliott. But when Daisy’s grandmother is killed in a seemingly random act of violence, Daisy must take steps to protect herself and her child.

Despite a thriving career in San Francisco, thirty-six-year-old Brooks McClain has returned home to spend what little time his mother has left before she succumbs to the deadly disease that is ravaging her. The seasoned investigative reporter has taken a position with the local newspaper and been on the job less than twenty-four hours when he’s summoned to cover the death of Pauline Thorpe.

Brooks is all business, but the more time he spends with Daisy DiStefano, the more invested he becomes; there’s something about a single mother, a defenseless child, and an unsolved crime that has stirred Brooks’s protective instincts like nothing ever has before.

And when the unthinkable happens, Brooks will do whatever it takes to clear the name of the woman he’s fallen for and the child he’ll protect at any cost.

Romantic and suspenseful, Every Time I Think of You shows how far two people will go to fight for the ones they love, and the life they’ve always imagined.